Crochet World Digital Version Review

I just renewed my print version of Crochet World, but I have been thinking about the digital version as an option for a while now. When I renewed my print version for two years, I was able to avoid paying shipping costs. I also discovered that there was a reduced cost for the digital version. When bought alone, the digital cost of the magazine is about $16 and gives you the current year as well as two years of back issues. When purchased with a print version the cost is less than $11. Buying the two together also gave me access to the current year and four years of back issues. Since I have been buying old issues to get the patterns this will reduce the issues I need to find.

The ability to download old and current patterns was worth the investment. I have already begun printing patterns to add to my collection.

I was originally wondering if I would regret buying the digital and the print versions. After reviewing the online magazine, I am not regretting it. There may be better ways to read the online version I have not discovered yet, but my original experience was not as enjoyable as I had hoped. It was not as easy to negotiate as I had hoped. You can read the current magazine in "magazine format" online. However, it does not appear that you can directly print from there. You have to move to the PDF version, which is not as quick to negotiate. This magazine format does not seem available for the older magazines, which makes reading the articles more difficult. There is an option to skip from page to page. However, it does not provide the "feel" of reading a magazine.

There is a search function and this is limited. If you search for a term like "afghan" it will bring you to the issues that have afghan patterns. It does not bring you to the specific patterns themselves. You have to open the magazine to find them.

As I explore the magazine further, I may find there are better functions to make using this easier. I will post more about my experiences as I learn more. If anyone has any suggestions to improve negotiating the digital system I would appreciate them.

Crochet Today Amigurumi Patterns

New Amigurumi patterns are available in the May/June 2010 Crochet Today magazine. The article is titled, "Roar It's a Zoo." The patterns include a Mom and child panda and tortoise, a monkey, and lion. I am looking forward to trying the Panda when I finish my dinosaur project. There is also an adorable mobile. The pattern is a rainbow motif that includes a rainbow, sun, and stuffed raindrops. This is a project is on my list of patterns to try.

For those who are hesitant to buy, try your local library. I find through our local library, I am able to get a number of knitting and crochet magazines through interlibrary loan.

Pictures may not be used without my written permission.

Barbie Magazine Patterns

I have been stumbling across Barbie patterns both in new and old copies of magazines. I decided for myself and others who are interested to start listing where I find them and what types of patterns are available.

I have discovered our local library carries older copies of magazines and I'm finding through interlibrary loan I can go back a few years on some titles to find different types of patterns. I'm finding white elephant sales and yard sales also seem to good resources for finding craft magazines. Family and friends are often willing to let you borrow a pattern as well if you know the month and year.

I will keep updating this blog entry as I discover more resources. Please feel free to comment with any others I should add that are available for people to access.


Crochet:

Barbie Ski Bunny Remake
Crochet Today Jan/Feb 2010

Barbie Beach Wear
Barbie and Ken
Crochet World June 2009

GI Camo Outfit and Tent
Crochet World August 2009







Picture Credit

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yehfriedchicken/ / CC BY-ND 2.0